Paper-feeding mechanism for printing presses



I. l. STONE July 30; 1929.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed Dec. 30 19203 Sheets-Sheet ,flttorne .5

y 1929. l. l. STONE 1,722,508

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed Dec. 30 19203 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 30, 1929. 1. l. STONE 1,722,503

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISI FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed Dec. 50 1 2s Sheetg-Sheet 3 w gran; L/

Irvwz .fflone.

Attornayfi Patented July 30, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING I. STONE,- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GUSTAVUS A. E.KOHLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed December 30, 1920, Serial N0. 433,994. Renewed May 21,1926.

This invention relates to paper feeding mechanism for printing presses,and has for its object to provide a new and improved mechanism of thisdescription particularly adapted for newspapers. One of the reuirementsof a daily newspaper is that it s all have the latest news. Thlsnecessitates delaying the printing of the newspapers so' that they maycontain this latest news.

When a large number of copies of such newspaper are printed, as in thelarge cities, the

' speed of printing becomes of vital importance, because not only mustthe beginning of the printing be delayed as much as possible, but thepapers after the printing is started must be completed and delivered tothe readers at the earliest possible moment.

One of the objects I 5 my invention is to increase the speed of printingsuch papers.

The paper supplied to printing presses is first formed into rolls of thedesired size, and these rolls are then brought to the press and mountedupon a rotating shaft and the web of paper from the roll, in the presentpractice, is fed upwardly into and through the press. This, due to thepull on the paper, places a great strain upon the web of paper causingit to accidentally tear or break, and then the press has to be stoppedto again thread the paper through it. This requires several men andconsiderable time, and greatly delays the printing of the newspapers.

By means of my invention I avoid such delays by arranging the paper sothat it fed downwardly to and through the press and to the formers, theforce of gravity assisting in the movement, instead of retarding it ashas been the case in the practice heretofore adopted.

Another object of my invention is to save paper. -With newspaperprinting presses as at present operated, there is'a large amount ofpaper wasted and where large editions are printed as in large cities,this waste runs very high. By means ofmy invention this waste can begreatly reduced.

The invention has other objects which are more particularly pointed outin the following description:

Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 is a view showing the mechanismembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing one of the paper carrying devices with thebelts in position;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views showing the steps whereby theweb from a fresh roll is connected with the web of an expired ro l andrun through the press without stopping the press;

Fig. 6 is a detail side view of one of the sockets of the reel;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through one of the spools for the roll ofpaper showing the remorable hollow receiving devices connected with theends thereof;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 6.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawings which' illustrate one form of mechanismembodying the invention, I provide a printing press 1 of any of theusual forms. I then mount the roll or rolls of paper above the press,that is in a plane above the press, so that the web will be feddownwardly into and through the press. In the particular constructionillustrated I provide a plurality of rolls of paper 1, 1, 1 and 1. Theserolls of paper are mounted in some manner so as to be broughtsuccessively into operative position. They may for example be mountedupon a rotating frame or reel 2, carried by supports. This frame or reelmay be rotated by hand or by a motor or by a connection to some sourceof power. Each of the rolls of paper is mounted so that it is free torotate to unwind the web of the paper.

Belts 4 are arranged to successively engage the rolls of paper. Thesebelts are suspended in proper position and pass over pulleys 5 and 6.The pulley 5 may be a driven pulley, driven by the shaft 7, said shaftdriven from any suitable source of power, as by means of the pulley 8.The pulleys 5 and 6, or rather the shafts upon which they are mounted,are connected by a suitable frame 8*, and this frame and the belt andthe pulley 6 may be rocked about the shaft 7.

to vary the position of the belt. The belt is normally suspended sothat, due to the weight of the parts it passes against the roll, asshown in Fig. 1, and since the belt is moving, it will cause the roll torotate so that the paper can be fed to the press, the belt being giventhe proper speed to permit the proper feed of-the paper.

The belt is preferably suspended above the roll of paper so that theroll engages it near the end thereof, that is near the end passing overthe pulley 6. This construction does not retard the roll, but starts thepaperout instantly and freely. When the belt is in operation the web 9of the paper passes down through the press 1 and between the eylinders10, 11, 12 and 13 of the press, and then after the paper is printedpasses-around -a direction changing roller 14, and then down below thepress, and then along to the former 15. It will thus be seen that theweb of paper passes downwardly to and through the press and to. theformer, and that the force of gravity is utilized to assist thismovement instead of retarding it.

It will further be seen that this takes away the excessive strain fromthe paper, and

prevents the accidental breaking of the web, thusincreasing the capacityof the press.

It will further be seen that the paper can be easily and quicklythreaded through the press by one man.

The rolls of paper when exhausted may be i replaced in any desiredmanner as by having them placed upon trucks and brought. up intoposition so that one roll may be attached to the reel while the paper isbeing fed from another roll, thus avoiding any delay in the printing ofthe papers. I prefer to support the paper rolls and reel upon the samefoundation as the press. This may be done by means of a support 17 whichmay be a part of the press frame or connected therewith so as to besupported upon the same foundation 18 as the press. This makes a morecompact structure and permits the use of thesame foundation for thereels and the press and avoids the necessity of a heavy floor above thepress. Such a construction permits one foundation on the lower floor toact for all the apparatus, and not only lessens the cost of theconstruction, but decreases the space necessary, and gives better use ofthe space provided, thus increasing the efficiency of operation.

\Vhen the paper on roll 1 for example is about exhausted, the reel 2 maybe moved, preferably in the direction of the arrow (see Figs. 3, 4 and5). The new roll,'as for example the roll 1 has its free edge 20provided with some adhesive material 21 as shown in Fig. 2. As the reel2 is moved it will be seen that the roll 1 is brought into positionwhere the belt acts upon it, the belt at the same time still acting onthe roll 1 (see Figs 4.) At this time the web 9 from the roll 1 isbetween the roll 1 and the belt. The pressure of the belt on roll 1starts it in motion when the adhesive edge 21 passes under the web 9from-roll 1, the pressure of the belt causing the web of roll 1 toadhere to the web of the roll l. If the transfer is made just as thepaper from roll 1 is exhausted, nothing furtherneed be done and thepaper will then be fed from roll 1. If the transfer from roll 1 to 1should be made while there is still considerable paper on the roll 1,the web of paper from roll 1 s cut or separated as soon as the web ofroll. 1" is connected therewith so that the printing continues upon the.web of roll 1.

It will thus 'be seen that by means of this construction and arrangementthe feed to the press may be transferred from one roll to anotherwithout stopping the press.

When roll 1 is exhausted the reel may be again moved so as to transferthe feed to roll 1 This may be continued as long as the press isinoperation, new rolls being supplied to the reel as hereinbeforedescribed.

It is desirable to have the reel and rolls arranged so that the rolls ofpaper can be easily and quickly removed from and connected with the reeland that when the roll of paper is connected with the reel it can notaccidentally become disconnected. This is particularly desirable whenthe rolls are placed above the press. One construction to secure thisresult is illustrated in the drawings. In this construction each reel isprovided at itsopposite ends with the frames 2, each having the desirednumber of arms. At the end of each arm there is provided a socket 25. Ineach socket is an opening in Which slides a pin 26. This pin is providedwith a flat side 27. The opening in the socket is preferably circular,and fastened to the socket atone end so as to project into this opening,is a piece 28, also having a flat side 29 which engages the flat side ofthe pin 26. The piece 28 may be fastened in position by suitablefastening devices 30".

some suitable holding device is provided for holding the pin againstmovement when it is in a predetermined position. As herein shown thereis a locking projection 30 which is fastened to an arm 31, preferably aspring arm, and which is fastened at 32 to the socket 25. This lockingprojcctimi passes into an opening in the pin 26 when the pin is in aposition to properly hold the roll of paper in place. There is also anopening in socket 25 and the piece 28 through which the lockingprojection 30 passes. Each pin 26 is provided with a reduced portion 34,and a shoulder 35. There are provided for each roll of paper two hollowreceivingdcvices 36. The reduced portions 3-11- of the two opposite pins26 extend into these hollow receptacles. The receptacles are preferablyprovided with friction reducing rollers 37 or other means for reducingthe friction. To place a roll of paper in position the receptacles 36are placed in the placed in between two opposed sockets 25, and the pinsthen pushed in so that the reduced portions 34 enterthe hollowreceptacles 36. When these reduced portions reach the proper positionthe lockingprojections 30 automatically enter the openmgs 33 in the pins26 and hold them a amst movement, thus preventing any acci ental removalof the rolls of paper.

When the web of paper is passing through the press, it must have such atension as will permit it to be properly printed upon and prevent itfrom being fed too fast or too slow through the press, and still preventit from breaking or tearing. By means of the present arrangement thistension is easily and automatically secured. The new roll of paper whenfirst acted upon by the belt, requires more effect to rotate it thanwhen the paper is nearly exhausted therefrom, because;

the larger the roll, the heavier it is, and as the paper is fed from theroll the lighter the roll gets. This variation in the weight of the rolland the power required to properly exerted by the belt thereforeautomatically decreases. that engages the roll of paper may be made ofsuch width as to give the paper passing therefrom, that is the web, theproper and desired tension for printing, thus making it unnecessary tohave tension devices connected'with the rolls. The belt not only feedsthe paper from the roll, but prevents the roll from running too fast andacts to give and maintain a uniform speed to the paper passing throughthe press. By means of this belt and the method herein shown of mountingthe roll on the reel, it is unnecessary to have the expensive spoolsupon which the paper is wound, as is now necesszny. This spool as nowused is heavy and expensive and must be returned to the mill each timeto be rewound. With the present devices, however, this need not be doneas the paper can be wound upon a simple paper tubeor spool not more thanone fourth of an inch With this construction the belt in thickness, andwhen the roll is exhausted this spool can be thrown away.

This great- I 1y reduces the expense as it obviates any investment inspools, and all expense for handling and returning them to the mills.This arrangement also does away with the spindles which it has beenheretofore necessary to use in mounting the rolls in position.

In this construction when the roll of paper is in position the bearingupon which it rotates is within the roll, and the roll itself is closeup againstthe sockets of the reel. lVith this arrangement the papernecessary' for a run can be loaded into position on the reels at anytime preceding the beginningof the run so that when the printing beginsit will be unnecessary to replenish the supply of paper, unless the rundemands a capacity exceeding four rolls of paper, in which event the.new rolls can be supplied during the run as heretofore described,without stopping-the press.

This arrangement provides a condition where one man has the entireapparatus under his supervision and observation and can see what isgoing on and can also see to In changing the feed of paper from one rollto another the change must be made before the paper is all run out or itwill be necessary to stop the press and rethread the paper. If the feedis changed from one roll to another too soon there will be a largeamount of paper left on the exhausted roll, and this paper is wasted. Bymeans of this invention when the paper from a given roll is almostexhausted, the operator can move the reel so as to bring this roll downclose to him and where he can have his hand on it, and have it underclose observation. It may be moved out of contact with the belt at thistime because the method of mounting the roll will insure its proper feedwhen only a small amount is left on the roll, and he can then see justhow many coils of paper are still left on the roll, and when all of thepaper has been run off except a few of the coils, he can then move thereel so as to bring the next roll into position to change the feed fromthe exhausted roll to the new roll; By this means he can always make thechange when there is only a small amount of paper on the exhausted roll,and thus greatly reduce the waste of paper. This bringing the feed ofthe paper under the control of one man insures the proper feed, preventsaccidents and delays, and greatly increases the speed of printing.

-It will be noted that the arms of the reels are single arms, each' onehaving a single socket at the end. .This provides economy of space. Itwill be noted that with thrs construction the reels can be mounted d1-rectly above the cylinders of the press, and

rolls of paper may be used the same width as the cylinders and locatedso that the ends of the rolls of pa er are.in substantially the sameplane as t e ends of the cylinders. B using the force of gravitation toasslst in f eeding the pa er to and through the press and to the ormer,a proper feed is secured at all times, and the speed of the press can bevaried without affecting the printing of the papers, as properprlntingwill be secured during all the variations in speed as where the speed ofthe paper through the press is slowed down or increased for any purpose.

The reels may be rotated by any desired mechanism. In Fig. 8 there isshown a section of the spool about which the roll of paper is wound,this spool consisting of a tube 39 of paper or similar material whichcan be discarded, and the hollow removable receiving devices 36 areshown connected with the ends of this spool. These receiving devicespreferably fit tightly so that they will turn with the roll andthemselves turn upon the reduced portions 34 of the pins 26. The reelsmay be rotated either by hand or by power. have shown for example inFig. 2 an electric motor 40, which is provided with a worm 41, engaginga worm wheel 42 on the central shaft 43 of the reel. By means of thismotor the reel can be turned backward or forward and be moved underperfect control and held in any desired position.

I claim:

1. A reel for rolls of paper for printing.

presses comprising a frame having separated arms, sockets at the ends ofsaid arms, pins slidably mounted in said sockets, the roll of paperadapted to be held between said pins, and means for automaticallylocking said pins against movement when the roll is in position.

2. A reel for rolls of paper for printing presses comprising a rotatableframe separated sockets connected with said frame, pins slidably mountedin said sockets, rotating receptacles into which the ends of said pinsare received, and withdrawn by longitudinally moving the pins in saidsockets, the rolls of paper supported on said receptaclesand rotatingtherewith.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a rotating reel a series ofseparated arms forming a part thereof, sockets at the ends of said arms,pins slidably mounted in said sockets, rotating receptacles adapted tobe mounted on the ends of said pins, said receptacles having open endswhich face toward said sockets to permit said pins to v be connectedtherewith and disconnected therefrom while remaining in said sockets,said receptacles adapted to be connected with the rolls of paper. i

4. A device of the kind described comprisin a rotating reel, a series ofseparate arms orming a part thereof, single sockets at the ends of saidarms, pins slidably mounted in said sockets, rotating receptaclesseparate from said pins but adapted to be mounted on the ends of saidpins, said receptacles adapted to be connected with the rolls of paperbefore being mounted on said pins, and means engaging the surface of thepaper on the roll for securing and maintaining the proper tension of theweb of paper that passes through the press.

5. A device of the kind described comprising a rotatable reel,supporting devices for rotatably supporting the rolls of paper I prisinga rotatable reel, supporting devices for supporting the rolls of paperthereon, said supporting devices comprising sliding pins, means forpreventing said pins from rotating, receptacles into which the ends ofsaid pins are received when slid longitudinally, said receptaclesadapted to be con nected with the rolls of paper.

7. A spool for rolls of paper for newspaper printing presses comprisinga hollow paper tube about which the paper is wound, and metalreceptacles inserted in the opposite ends of said tube, said receptacleshaving unobstructed openings opening outwardly to receive the supportsupon which the roll of paper is rotated and acting as bearings forrotatably supporting the roll of paper while being fed to the press.

8. A device of the kind described comprising a rotating reel providedwith a series of projecting arms at each end thereof, a socket at theend of each arm, the sockets at one end being opposed to the sockets atthe other end, a pin slidably mounted in each socket and upon whichrolls of paper are adapted to be supported, springs connected with saidsockets, locking projections on said springs, said locking projectionsadapted to engage said pins when in their locking position and hold saidpins against movement.

9. A device of the kind described comprising a frame, means forrotatably mounting said frame, a series of single projecting arms atopposite ends of the frame, a single socket at the end of each arm, aseparate pin for each arm located in each of said sockets extendingsubstantially at right angles to the arm and adapted to support rolls ofpaper and means for automatically locking said pins against movementunder predetermined conditions.

10. A device of the kind described comprising a frame, means forrotatably mounting said frame, a series of projecting arms at oppositeends of the frame between which rolls of paper are rotatably mounted, amovable belt adapted to engage one of the rolls of paper from whichpaper is being delivered to the press, said 'belt having the portionthereof which engages the paper of said roll moving downwardly, andmeans for r0- tating said frame so as to move the new roll of paper tofirst engage the web of paper coming from the expiring roll at the lowerend of the belt and move said new roll upward along said belt whiletransferring the delivery of the paper to the press from the exhaustingroll to said new roll.

11. A device for changing the delivery of paper. to a printing pressfrom an exhausting roll to a new roll comprising a movable support uponwhich the exhausting roll and the new roll are rotatably mounted, thenew roll having adhesive on its outer face, an endless movable beltwhich engages the exhausting roll from which the web of paper is passingto the printing press, a frame with which said belt is associated, saidframe movably supported, said belt having the portion thereof whichengages the paper of said roll moving downwardly, and means for movingthe movable support for the rolls when the exhausting roll is aboutexhausted so as to move the new roll upwardly to bring the new roll intocontact with a portion of the web of the exhausting roll opposite thelower end of the belt.

12. The process of transferring the'delivery of paper to a printingpress from an ex hausting roll to a new roll which' consists in rotatingthe exhausting roll so as to move the web of paper therefrom downwardlyand then moving the new roll upwardly when the exhausting roll is aboutexhausted until the periphery of the new roll containing adhesivematerial comes into contact with the downwardly moving web of theexhausting roll and presses said web against the lower end of a rollengaging device which engages v said web and causes the paper of the newroll to adhere to the web of the exhausting roll.

,In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature

